Nina Nastasia – What She Doesn’t Know / Red Rose (Fat Cat)
3/5
By: Liam Manley
Recorded two years ago, this double A-side 7" of unreleased songs from sessions with Steve Albini, finds Nastasia in somewhat differing shades of introspection.
As a snapshot of infidelity told from the 'other woman's' perspective, 'What She Doesn't Know' has a slightly ambiguous air, particularly as there's no grand confession nor wringing of guilty hands typical to this type of song. Rather more, there's a level of denial and dismissal prevalent in the refrain 'What she doesn't know couldn't hurt her anyway', yet, specifically with the line 'To know I'd give up everything/And know I never can', a moment of realisation found amongst the rushes of lust.
The sparse accompaniment and delicately breathed vocal of the former track contrasts starkly with the buoyancy of AA-side 'Red Nose', with Nastasia's much shriller vocal performance hiccupping over collaborator Jim White's rush and rustle. Though far from a poor composition, the latter song suffers when placed next to the precise, hushed intimacy of the former, seemingly brash and out of place by comparison.
On the whole, these recordings, made between 06's On Leaving and 07's You Follow Me, only point to where Nastasia was heading at that specific point, telling us very little of where she might be directed now.
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